Ash was shaking his head. “We have recording devices for that. Body cams.”
But Dante was nodding. “Even with video, we could walk right past something important.”
Suddenly, Ellory wished she’d gone to vet school after all.
But she knew they were right. She wouldn’t just know what to look for—she would remember it.
Going into a bank to gather information on safety-deposit boxes that had been blown open was one thing. Walking into office space rented by a known terrorist was another.
Ellory had already traced a web of shell companies tied to Cipher. Those companies owned properties across the country, laundering money through legitimate-looking rental income. Some of that money had been converted into cash and valuables and stored in safety-deposit boxes—assets Cipher could access later to fund his operations.
The team could link the boxes to Cipher. What they still needed was proof his operatives had accessed them.
If they could tie the terrorists taking orders from Cipher to those boxes—through access logs, surveillance, anything that showed the money moving from Cipher’s control into their hands—the government could freeze every asset in the network.
She looked from face to face, searching for an out, but she only found expectation. They were looking at her like they needed her. The operation needed her.
“Who’s going with me?” Her voice came out steadier than she felt, much to her surprise.
“I’ll do it.”
She jerked her head to see who’d volunteered, even though she already knew who it was. The man with the big biceps.
Body odor!
And the steely buns.
Probably hairy!
Of course it was the moody, brooding operative with shoulders built for tackling linebackers and a jawline that could cut glass. The one who looked at her like she was an inconvenience he was forced to tolerate even as his gaze penetrated her too deeply.
This was a terrible idea. And definitely a reason for her to stay on base.
Going into the field with Angelo Ash was about as smart as trying to do corporate taxes drunk. He was too good-looking. Too intense. And that whole silent, dangerous thing he had going on? It wassohot on him.
Which was exactly the problem.
She’d spent the last two days trying to convince herself his ass was hairy and he probably had body odor, but her traitorous brain kept circling back to the way his muscles shifted under his shirts and how his dark eyes tracked her every movement.
Yup. Staying on base was safer. For the mission and her sanity.
“When?” she heard herself ask, even as her mind screamed at her to find an excuse.
“Now.” The order came from Con, and there was no arguing.
The nod he gave her didn’t provide any peace of mind.
“Ash, take the van. Steele, Mason, get them both prepped.”
All three men shoved away from the table, jumping into action. Only Ash paused to settle his gaze on her. It was just a beat, but it was enough to make her pulse speed up.
Sophie and Opal swept her away then, urging her down the hallway. A bag was shoved into her hand while her kitten heels clicked rapidly on the marble floor as she tried to keep up with Opal’s brisk pace.
“I can’t go into an op wearing these heels.”
Opal didn’t glance back at her as she led the way to the garage. “This is my go-bag. Boots are inside. You can change in the van.”
They reached a side door, and Opal swung it open. Before Ellory blinked, she was faced with a running van. Behind the wheel sat Ash.
